LEGALITYLe*gal"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. LL. legalitas, F. légalité. Cf. Loyalty.]
1. The state or quality of being letter of the law.
LEGALIZATIONLe`gal*i*za"tion, n.
Defn: The act of making legal.
LEGALIZELe"gal*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Legalized; p. pr. & vb. n.Legalizing.] Etym: [Cf. F. légaliser.]
1. To make legal.
2. (Theol.)
Defn: To interpret or apply in a legal spirit.
LEGALLYLe"gal*ly, adv.
Defn: In a legal manner.
LEGANTINELe*gan"tine, a. [Obs.]
Defn: See Legatine.
LEGATARY Leg"a*ta*ry, n. Etym: [L. legatarius, fr. legaturius enjoined by a last will: cf. F. légataire. See Legacy.]
Defn: A legatee. [R.] Ayliffe.
LEGATELeg"ate, n. Etym: [OE. legal, L. legatus, fr. legare to sent with acommission or charge, to depute, fr. lex, legis, law: cf. F. légat,It. legato. See Legal.]
1. An ambassador or envoy.
2. An ecclesiastic representing the pope and invested with the authority of the Holy See.
Note: Legates are of three kinds: (a) Legates a latere, now always cardinals. They are called ordinary or extraordinary legates, the former governing provinces, and the latter class being sent to foreign countries on extraordinary occasions. (b) Legati missi, who correspond to the ambassadors of temporal governments. (c) Legati nati, or legates by virtue of their office, as the archbishops of Salzburg and Prague.
3. (Rom. Hist.) (a) An official assistant given to a general or to the governor of a province. (b) Under the emperors, a governor sent to a province.
LEGATEELeg`a*tee", n. Etym: [See Legacy.] (Law)
Defn: One to whom a legacy is bequeathed.
LEGATESHIPLeg"ate*ship, n.
Defn: The office of a legate.
LEGATINELeg"a*tine, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to a legate; as, legatine power. Holinshed.
2. Made by, proceeding from, or under the sanction of, a legate; as, a legatine constitution. Ayliffe.
LEGATIONLe*ga"tion, n. Etym: [L. legatio: cf. F. légation, It. legazione. SeeLegate.]
1. The sending forth or commissioning one person to act for another. "The Divine legation of Moses." Bp. Warburton.
2. A legate, or envoy, and the persons associated with him in his mission; an embassy; or, in stricter usage, a diplomatic minister and his suite; a deputation.
3. The place of business or official residence of a diplomatic minister at a foreign court or seat of government.
4. A district under the jurisdiction of a legate.
LEGATO Le*ga"to, a. Etym: [It., tied, joined, fr. legare to tie, bind, L. ligare.] (Mus.)
Defn: Connected; tied; — a term used when successive tones are to be produced in a closely connected, smoothly gliding manner. It is often indicated by a tie, thus staccato.
LEGATORLeg`a*tor", n. Etym: [L., fr. legare: cf. OF. legateur. See Legacy.](Law)
Defn: A testator; one who bequeaths a legacy. Dryden.
LEGATURALe`ga*tu"ra, n. Etym: [It. See Ligature.] (Mus.)
Defn: A tie or brace; a syncopation.
LEGATURELeg"a*ture, n.
Defn: Legateship. [Obs.]
LEG BRIDGELeg bridge.
Defn: A type of bridge for small spans in which the floor girders are rigidly secured at their extremities to supporting steel legs, driven into the round as piling, or resting on mudsills.
LEGELege, v. t. Etym: [Abbrev. fr. allege to assert.]
Defn: To allege; to assert. [Obs.] Bp. Fisher.
LEGEMENTLege"ment, n.
Defn: See Ledgment.
LEGENDLeg"end, n. Etym: [OE. legende, OF. legende, F. légende, LL. legenda,fr. L. legendus to be read, fr. legere to read, gather; akin to Gr.Collect, Dialogue, Lesson, Logic.]
1. That which is appointed to be read; especially, a chronicle or register of the lives of saints, formerly read at matins, and in the refectories of religious houses.
2. A story respecting saints; especially, one of a marvelous nature. Addison.
3. Any wonderful story coming down from the past, but not verifiable by historical record; a myth; a fable. And in this legend all that glorious deed. Read, whilst you arm you. Fairfax.
4. An inscription, motto, or title, esp. one surrounding the field in a medal or coin, or placed upon an heraldic shield or beneath an engraving or illustration. Golden legend. See under Golden.
LEGENDLeg"end, v. t.
Defn: To tell or narrate, as a legend. Bp. Hall.
LEGENDARYLeg"end*a*ry, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to a legend or to legends; consisting of legends; like a legend; fabulous. "Legendary writers." Bp. Lloyd. Legendary stories of nurses and old women. Bourne.
LEGENDARYLeg"end*a*ry, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. legendaire, LL. legendarius.]
1. A book of legends; a tale or parrative. Read the Countess of Pembroke's "Arcadia," a gallant legendary full of pleasurable accidents. James I.
2. One who relates legends. Bp. Lavington.
LEGERLeg"er, n. Etym: [See Ledger.]
1. Anything that lies in a place; that which, or one who, remains in a place. [Obs.]
2. A minister or ambassador resident at a court or seat of government. [Written also lieger, leiger.] [Obs.] Sir Edward Carne, the queen's leger at Rome. Fuller.
3. A ledger.
LEGERLeg"er, a.
Defn: Lying or remaining in a place; hence, resident; as, leger ambassador.
LEGER Leg"er, a. Etym: [F. léger, fr. LL. (assumed) leviarius, fr. L. levis light in weight. See Levity.]
Defn: Light; slender; slim; trivial. [Obs. except in special phrases.] Bacon. Leger line (Mus.), a line added above or below the staff to extend its compass; — called also added line.
LEGERDEMAIN Leg`er*de*main", n. Etym: [F. léger light, nimble + de of + main hand, L. manus. See 3d Leger, and Manual.]
Defn: Sleight of hand; a trick of sleight of hand; hence, any artfuldeception or trick.He of legierdemayne the mysteries did know. Spenser.The tricks and legerdemain by which men impose upon their own souls.South.
LEGERDEMAINISTLeg`er*de*main"ist, n.
Defn: One who practices sleight of hand; a prestidigitator.
LEGERITYLe*ger"i*ty, n. Etym: [F. légèreté. See 3d Leger.]
Defn: Lightness; nimbleness [Archaic] Shak.
LEGGELegge, v. t. Etym: [See Lay, v. t. ]
Defn: To lay. [Obs.]
LEGGELegge, v. t. Etym: [Abbrev. fr. alegge.]
Defn: To lighten; to allay. [Obs.] Rom. of R.
LEGGEDLegged, a. Etym: [From Leg.]
Defn: Having (such or so many) legs; — used in composition; as, a long-legged man; a two-legged animal.
LEGGIADRO; LEGGIEROLeg`gi*a"dro, Leg`gi*e"ro, a. & adv. Etym: [It.] (Mus.)
Defn: Light or graceful; in a light, delicate, and brick style.
LEGGING; LEGGINLeg"ging, Leg"gin, n. Etym: [From Leg.]
Defn: A cover for the leg, like a long gaiter.
LEGGINGLeg"ging, a. & vb. n.
Defn: , from Leg, v. t.
LEGGYLeg"gy (-gy), a.
Defn: Having long legs. Thackeray.
LEGHORNLeg"horn, n.
Defn: A straw plaiting used for bonnets and hats, made from the straw of a particular kind of wheat, grown for the purpose in Tuscany, Italy; — so called from Leghorn, the place of exportation.
LEGIBILITYLeg`i*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: The quality of being legible; legibleness. Sir. D. Brewster.
LEGIBLE Leg"i*ble, a. Etym: [L. legibilis, fr. legere to read: cf. OF. legible. See Legend.]
1. Capable of being read or deciphered; distinct to the eye; plain; - - used of writing or printing; as, a fair, legible manuscript. The stone with moss and lichens so overspread, Nothing is legible but the name alone. Longfellow.
2. Capable of being discovered or understood by apparent marks or indications; as, the thoughts of men are often legible in their countenances.
LEGIBLENESSLeg"i*ble*ness, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being legible.
LEGIBLYLeg"i*bly, adv.
Defn: In a legible manner.
LEGIFICLe*gif"ic, a. Etym: [L. lex, legis, law + -ficare (in comp.) to make.See -fy.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to making laws. Practically, in many cases, authority or legific competence has begun in bare power. J. Grote.
LEGION Le"gion, n. Etym: [OE. legioun, OF. legion, F. légion, fr. L. legio, fr. legere to gather, collect. See Legend.]
1. (Rom. Antiq.)
Defn: A body of foot soldiers and cavalry consisting of different numbers at different periods, — from about four thousand to about six thousand men, — the cavalry being about one tenth.
2. A military force; an army; military bands.
3. A great number; a multitude. Where one sin has entered,legions will force their way through the same breach. Rogers.
4. (Taxonomy)
Defn: A group of orders inferior to a class. Legion of honor, an order instituted by the French government in 1802, when Bonaparte was First Consul, as a reward for merit, both civil and military.
LEGIONARYLe"gion*a*ry, a. Etym: [L.legionarius: cf. F. légionnaire.]
Defn: Belonging to a legion; consisting of a legion or legions, or of an indefinitely great number; as, legionary soldiers; a legionary force. "The legionary body of error." Sir T. Browne.
LEGIONARYLe"gion*a*ry, n.; pl. Legionaries (.
Defn: A member of a legion. Milton.
LEGIONEDLe"gioned, a.
Defn: Formed into a legion or legions; legionary. Shelley.
LEGIONRYLe"gion*ry, n.
Defn: A body of legions; legions, collectively. [R.] Pollok.
LEGISLATELeg"is*late, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Legislated; p. pr. & vb. n.Legislating.] Etym: [See Legislator.]
Defn: To make or enact a law or laws. Solon, in legislating for the Athenians, had an idea of a more perfect constitution than he gave them. Bp. Watson (1805).
LEGISLATIONLeg`is*la"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. législation, L. legis latio. SeeLegislator.]
Defn: The act of legislating; preparation and enactment of laws; thelaws enacted.Pythagoras joined legislation to his philosophy. Lyttelton.
LEGISLATIVELeg"is*la*tive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. législatij.]
1. Making, or having the power to make, a law or laws; lawmaking; — distinguished from executive; as, a legislative act; a legislative body. The supreme legislative power of England was lodged in the king and great council, or what was afterwards called the Parliament. Hume.
2. Of or pertaining to the making of laws; suitable to legislation; as, the transaction of legislative business; the legislative style.
LEGISLATIVELYLeg"is*la*tive*ly, adv.
Defn: In a legislative manner.
LEGISLATOR Leg"is*la`tor, n. Etym: [L. legis lator, prop., a proposer of a law; lex, legis, law + lator a proposer, bearer, fr. latus, used as p. p. of ferre to bear: cf. F. législateur. See Legal, and Tolerate.]
Defn: A lawgiver; one who makes laws for a state or community; a member of a legislative body. The legislators in ancient and heroical times. Bacon. Many of the legislators themselves had taken an oath of abjuration of his Majesty's person and family. E. Phillips.
LEGISLATORIALLeg`is*la*to"ri*al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to a legislator or legislature.
LEGISLATORSHIPLeg"is*la`tor*ship, n.
Defn: The office of a legislator. Halifax.
LEGISLATRESS; LEGISLATRIXLeg"is*la`tress, Leg"is*la`trix, n.
Defn: A woman who makes laws. Shaftesbury.
LEGISLATURELeg"is*la`ture, n. Etym: [Cf. F. législature.]
Defn: The body of persons in a state or kingdom invested with power to make and repeal laws; a legislative body. Without the concurrent consent of all three parts of the legislature, no law is, or can be, made. Sir M. Hale.
Note: The legislature of Great Britain consists of the Lords and Commons, with the king or queen, whose sanction is necessary to every bill before it becomes a law. The legislatures of most of the United States consist of two houses or branches; but the sanction or consent of the governor is required to give their acts the force of law, or a concurrence of two thirds of the two houses after he has refused his sanction and assigned his objections.
LEGISTLe"gist, n. Etym: [F. légiste, LL. legista, fr. L. lex, legis, law.See Legal.]
Defn: One skilled in the laws; a writer on law. Milman. J. Morley.
LEGITIMLe*git"im, n. Etym: [See Legitimate, a.] (Scots Law)
Defn: The portion of movable estate to which the children are entitled upon the death of the father.
LEGITIMACYLe*git"i*ma*cy, n. Etym: [See Legitimate, a.]
Defn: The state, or quality, of being legitimate, or in conformity with law; hence, the condition of having been lawfully begotten, or born in wedlock. The doctrine of Divine Right, which has now come back to us, like a thief from transportation, under the alias of Legitimacy. Macaulay.
LEGITIMATE Le*git"i*mate, a. Etym: [LL. legitimatus, p. p. of legitimare to legitimate, fr. L. legitimus legitimate. See Legal.]
1. Accordant with law or with established legal forms and requirements; lawful; as, legitimate government; legitimate rights; the legitimate succession to the throne; a legitimate proceeding of an officer; a legitimate heir.
2. Lawfully begotten; born in wedlock.
3. Authorized; real; genuine; not false, counterfeit, or spurious; as, legitimate poems of Chaucer; legitimate inscriptions.
4. Conforming to known principles, or accepted rules; as, legitimate reasoning; a legitimate standard, or method; a legitimate combination of colors. Tillotson still keeps his place as a legitimate English classic. Macaulay.
5. Following by logical sequence; reasonable; as, a legitimate result; a legitimate inference.
LEGITIMATELe*git"i*mate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Legitimated; p. pr. & vb. n.Legitimating.]
Defn: To make legitimate, lawful, or valid; esp., to put in the position or state of a legitimate person before the law, by legal means; as, to legitimate a bastard child. To enact a statute of that which he dares not seem to approve, even to legitimate vice. Milton.
LEGITIMATELYLe*git"i*mate*ly, adv.
Defn: In a legitimate manner; lawfully; genuinely.
LEGITIMATENESSLe*git"i*mate*ness, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being legitimate; lawfulness; genuineness.
LEGITIMATIONLe*git`i*ma"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. légitimation.]
1. The act of making legitimate. The coining or legitimation of money. East.
2. Lawful birth. [R.] Shak.
LEGITIMATISTLe*git"i*ma*tist, n.
Defn: See Legitimist.
LEGITIMATIZELe*git"i*ma*tize, v. t.
Defn: To legitimate.
LEGITIMISMLe*git"i*mism, n.
Defn: The principles or plans of legitimists.
LEGITIMISTLe*git"i*mist, n. Etym: [Cf. F. légitimiste.]
1. One who supports legitimate authority; esp., one who believes in hereditary monarchy, as a divine right.
2. Specifically, a supporter of the claims of the elder branch of the Bourbon dynasty to the crown of France.
LEGITIMIZELe*git"i*mize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Legitimized; p. pr. & vb. n.Legitimizing.]
Defn: To legitimate.
LEGLESSLeg"less, a.
Defn: Not having a leg.
LEG-OF-MUTTONLeg"-of-mut"ton, a.
Defn: Having the general shape or outline of a leg of mutton; as, a leg-of-mutton, or shoulder-of-mutton, sail.
LEGO-LITERARYLe"go-lit"er*a*ry, a. Etym: [See Legal, and Literary.]
Defn: Pertaining to the literature of law.
LEGULEIAN Le`gu*le"ian, a. Etym: [L. leguleius pettifogger, fr. lex, legis, law.]
Defn: Lawyerlike; legal. [R.] "Leguleian barbarism." De Quincey. — n.
Defn: A lawyer.
LEGUME Leg"ume, n. Etym: [F. légume, L. legumen, fr. legere to gather. So called because they may be gathered without cutting. See Legend.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: A pod dehiscent into two pieces or valves, and having the seed attached at one suture, as that of the pea.
Note: In the latter circumstance, it differs from a siliqua, in which the seeds are attached to both sutures. In popular use, a legume is called a pod, or cod; as, pea pod, or peas cod.
2. pl.
Defn: The fruit of leguminous plants, as peas, beans, lupines; pulse.
LEGUMENLe*gu"men, n.; pl. L. Legumina, E. Legumens. Etym: [L.]
Defn: Same as Legume.
LEGUMINLe*gu"min, n. Etym: [Cf. F. légumine.] (Physiol. Chem.)
Defn: An albuminous substance resembling casein, found as a characteristic ingredient of the seeds of leguminous and grain- bearing plants.
LEGUMINOUSLe*gu"mi*nous, a. Etym: [Cf. F. légumineux.]
1. Pertaining to pulse; consisting of pulse.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: Belonging to, or resembling, a very large natural order of plants (Leguminosæ), which bear legumes, including peas, beans, clover, locust trees, acacias, and mimosas.
LEIGERLei"ger, n. Etym: [See Leger, and Ledger.]
Defn: See Leger, n., 2. [Obs.] Shak.
LEIOTRICHANLei*ot"ri*chan, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Leiotrichi.— n.
Defn: One of the Leiotrichi.
LEIOTRICHILei*ot"ri*chi, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Anthropol.)
Defn: The division of mankind which embraces the smooth-haired races.
LEIOTRICHOUSLei*ot"ri*chous, a. Etym: [See Leiotrichi.] (Anthropol.)
Defn: Having smooth, or nearly smooth, hair.
LEIPOALei*po"a, n. Etym: [NL.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of Australian gallinaceous birds including but a single species (Leipoa ocellata), about the size of a turkey. Its color is variegated, drown, black, white, and gray. Called also native pheasant.
Note: It makes large mounds of sand and vegetable material, in which its eggs are laid to be hatched by the heat of the decomposing mass.
LEIPOTHYMICLei`po*thym"ic, a.
Defn: See Lipothymic.
LEISTER; LISTERLeis"ter, Lis"ter, n.
Defn: A spear armed with three or more prongs, for striking fish.[Scotland]
LEISURABLELei"sur*a*ble, a. Etym: [See Leisure.]
1. Leisurely. [Obs.] Hooker.
2. Vacant of employment; not occupied; idle; leisure; as leisurable hours. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
LEISURABLYLei"sur*a*bly, adv.
Defn: At leisure. [Obs.]
LEISURE Lei"sure n. Etym: [OE. leisere, leiser, OF.leisir, F. loisir, orig., permission, fr. L. licere to be permitted. See License.]
1. Freedom from occupation or business; vacant time; time free fromemployment.The desire of leisure is much more natural than of business and care.Sir W. Temple.
2. Time at one's command, free from engagement; convenient opportunity; hence, convenience; ease. He sighed, and had no leisure more to say. Dryden. At leisure. (a) Free from occupation; not busy. (b) In a leisurely manner; at a convenient time.
LEISURELei"sure, a.
Defn: Unemployed; as, leisure hours.
LEISUREDLei"sured, a.
Defn: Having leisure. "The leisured classes." Gladstone.
LEISURELYLei"sure*ly, a.
Defn: Characterized by leisure; taking abundant tome; not hurried; as, a leisurely manner; a leisurely walk.
LEISURELYLei"sure*ly, adv.
Defn: In a leisurely manner. Addison.
LEITMOTIFLeit"mo*tif", n. Etym: [G.] (Mus.)
Defn: See Leading motive, under Leading, a.
LEMANLe"man, n. Etym: [OE. lemman, legman; AS.leóf dear + mann man. SeeLief, and Man.]
Defn: A sweetheart, of either sex; a gallant, or a mistress; — usually in a bad sense. [Archaic] Chaucer. Spenser. Shak.
LEME Leme, n. Etym: [OE. leem, leme, leam, AS. leóma light, brightness; akin to E. light, n. sq. root122.]
Defn: A ray or glimmer of light; a gleam. [Obs.] Chaucer.
LEMELeme, v. i.
Defn: To shine. [Obs.] Piers Plowman.
LEMMALem"ma, n.; pl. L. Lemmata, E. Lemmas. Etym: [L. lemma, Gr.Syllable.]
Defn: A preliminary or auxiliary proposition demonstrated or accepted for immediate use in the demonstration of some other proposition, as in mathematics or logic.
LEMMANLem"man, n.
Defn: A leman. [Obs.] Chaucer.
LEMMING Lem"ming, n. Etym: [Nor. lemming, lemende; cf. Sw. lemel, Lapp. lummik.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any one of several species of small arctic rodents of the genera Myodes and Cuniculus, resembling the meadow mice in form. They are found in both hemispheres.
Note: The common Northern European lemming (Myodes lemmus) is remarkable for making occasional devastating migrations in enormous numbers from the mountains into the lowlands.
LEMNIANLem"ni*an, a. Etym: [L. Lemnius, fr. Lemnus, Gr.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the isle of Lemnos. Lemnian bole, Lemnian earth, an aluminous earth of a grayish yellow color; sphragide; — formerly sold as medicine, having astringent properties. — Lemnian reddle, a reddle of firm consistence and deep red color; — used by artificers in coloring.
LEMNISCATA; LEMNISCATE Lem`nis*ca"ta, Lem*nis"cate, n. Etym: [L. lemniscatus adorned with ribbons, fr. lemniscus a ribbon having down, Gr. (Geom.)
Defn: A curve in the form of the figure 8, with both parts symmetrical, generated by the point in which a tangent to an equilateral hyperbola meets the perpendicular on it drawn from the center.
LEMNISCUSLem*nis"cus, n.; pl. Lemnisci () Etym: [L. See Lemniscata.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of two oval bodies hanging from the interior walls of the body in the Acanthocephala.
LEMON Lem"on, n. Etym: [F. limon, Per. lim; cf. Ar.laim, Sp. limon, It. limone. Cf. Lime a fruit.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: An oval or roundish fruit resembling the orange, and containing a pulp usually intensely acid. It is produced by a tropical tree of the genus Citrus,the common fruit known in commerce being that of the species C. Limonum or C. Medica (var. Limonum). There are many varieties of the fruit, some of which are sweet.
2. The tree which bears lemons; the lemon tree. Lemon grass (Bot.), a fragrant East Indian grass (Andropogon Shoenanthus, and perhaps other allied species), which yields the grass oil used in perfumery. — Lemon sole (Zoöl.), a yellow European sole (Solea aurantiaca). — Salts of lemon (Chem.), a white crystalline substance, inappropriately named, as it consists of an acid potassium oxalate and contains no citric acid, which is the characteristic acid of lemon; — called also salis of sorrel. It is used in removing ink stains. See Oxalic acid, under Oxalic. [Colloq.]
LEMONADELem`on*ade", n. Etym: [F. limonade; cf. Sp. limonada, It. limonata.See Lemon.]
Defn: A beverage consisting of lemon juice mixed with water and sweetened.
LEMUR Le"mur, n. Etym: [L., a ghost, specter. So called on account of its habit of going abroad by night.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of a family (Lemuridæ) of nocturnal mammals allied to the monkeys, but of small size, and having a sharp and foxlike muzzle, and large eyes. They feed upon birds, insects, and fruit, and are mostly natives of Madagascar and the neighboring islands, one genus (Galago) occurring in Africa. The slow lemur or kukang of the East Indies is Nycticebus tardigradus. See Galago, Indris, and Colugo.
LEMURESLem"u*res, n. pl. Etym: [L. See Lemur.]
Defn: Spirits or ghosts of the departed; specters.The Lars and Lemures moan with midnight plaint. Milton.
LEMURIA Le*mu"ri*a, n. Etym: [So named from the supposition that it was the original home of the lemurs.]
Defn: A hypothetical land, or continent, supposed by some to have existed formerly in the Indian Ocean, of which Madagascar is a remnant. Herschel.
LEMURIDLem"u*rid, a. & n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Same as Lemuroid.
LEMURIDOUS; LEMURINELe*mu"ri*dous, Lem"u*rine, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Lemuroid.
LEMUROIDLem"u*roid, a. Etym: [Lemur + -oid.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Like or pertaining to the lemurs or the Lemuroidea.— n.
Defn: One of the Lemuroidea.
LEMUROIDEALem`u*roi"de*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Lemur, and -oid.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A suborder of primates, including the lemurs, the aye-aye, and allied species. [Written also Lemuroida.]
LENALe"na, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: A procuress. J. Webster.
LENARD RAYSLe*nard" rays. (Physics.)
Defn: Rays emanating from the outer surface of a plate composed of any material permeable by cathode rays, as aluminium, which forms a portion of a wall of a vacuum tube, or which is mounted within the tube and exposed to radiation from the cathode. Lenard rays are similar in all their known properties to cathode rays. So called from the German physicist Philipp Lenard (b. 1862), who first described them.
LENARD TUBELenard tube. (Elec.)
Defn: A tube for producing Lenard rays.
LENDLend, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Lent ; p. pr. & vb. n. Lending.] Etym:[OE.lenen, AS. l, fr. l loan; akin to G. lehnen to lend. See Loan.]
1. To allow the custody and use of, on condition of the return of the same; to grant the temporary use of; as, to lend a book; — opposed to borrow. Give me that ring. I'll lend it thee, my dear, but have no power To give it from me. Shak.
2. To allow the possession and use of, on condition of the return of an equivalent in kind; as, to lend money or some article of food. Thou shalt not give him thy money upon usury, nor lend him thy victuals for increase. Levit. xxv. 37.
3. To afford; to grant or furnish in general; as, to lend assistance; to lend one's name or influence. Cato, lend me for a while thy patience. Addison. Mountain lines and distant horizons lend space and largeness to his compositions. J. A. Symonds.
4. To let for hire or compensation; as, to lend a horse or gig.
Note: This use of the word is rare in the United States, except with reference to money. To lend a hand, to give assistance; to help. [Colloq.] — To lend an ear or one's ears, to give attention.
LENDABLELend"a*ble, a.
Defn: Such as can be lent. Sherwood.
LENDERLend"er, n.
Defn: One who lends.The borrower is servant to the lender. Prov. xxii. 7.
LENDESLend"es, n. pl.
Defn: See Lends. [Obs.] Chaucer.
LENDINGLend"ing, n.
1. The act of one who lends.
2. That which is lent or furnished.
LENDS Lends, n. pl. Etym: [AS. lend, lenden; akin to D. & G. lende, OHG. lenti, Icel. lend, and perh to E. loin.]
Defn: Loins. [Obs.] Wyclif.
LENELene, v. i. Etym: [See Lend.]
Defn: To lend; to grant; to permit. [Obs.] Chaucer.
LENE Le"ne, a. Etym: [L. lenis smooth.] (Phonetics) (a) Smooth; as, the lene breathing. (b) Applied to certain mute consonants, as p, k, and t. (or Gr. p, k, t.). W. E. Jelf.
LENE Le"ne, n. (Phonetics) (a) The smooth breathing (spiritus lenis). (b) Any one of the lene consonants, as p, k, or i (or Gr. p, k, t.). W. E. Jelf.
LENGER; LENGESTLeng"er, Leng"est, a.
Defn: Longer; longest; — obsolete compar. and superl. of long.Chaucer.
LENGTH Length, n. Etym: [OE. lengthe, AS. leng, fr. land, long, long; akin to D. lengte, Dan. længde, Sw. längd, Icel. lengd. See Long, a. ]
1. The longest, or longer, dimension of any object, in distinction from breadth or width; extent of anything from end to end; the longest line which can be drawn through a body, parallel to its sides; as, the length of a church, or of a ship; the length of a rope or line.
2. A portion of space or of time considered as measured by its length; — often in the plural. Large lengths of seas and shores. Shak. The future but a length behind the past. Dryden.
3. The quality or state of being long, in space or time; extent; duration; as, some sea birds are remarkable for the length of their wings; he was tired by the length of the sermon, and the length of his walk.
4. A single piece or subdivision of a series, or of a number of long pieces which may be connected together; as, a length of pipe; a length of fence.
5. Detail or amplification; unfolding; continuance as, to pursue a subject to a great length. May Heaven, great monarch, still augment your bliss. With length of days and every day like this. Dryden.
6. Distance.[Obs.] He had marched to the length of Exeter. Clarendon. At length. (a) At or in the full extent; without abbreviation; as, let the name be inserted at length. (b) At the end or conclusion; after a long period. See Syn. of At last, under Last. — At arm's length. See under Arm.
LENGTHLength, v. i.
Defn: To lengthen. [Obs.] Shak.
LENGTHENLength"en, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Lengthenel; p. pr. & vb. n.Lengthening.]
Defn: To extent in length; to make longer in extent or duration; as,to lengthen a line or a road; to lengthen life; — sometimes followedby out.What if I please to lengthen out his date. Dryden.
LENGTHENLength"en, v. i.
Defn: To become longer. Locke.
LENGTHFULLength"ful, a.
Defn: Long. [Obs.] Pope.
LENGTHILYLength"i*ly, adv.
Defn: In a lengthy manner; at great length or extent.
LENGTHINESSLength"i*ness, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being lengthy; prolixity.
LENGTHWAYS; LENGTHWISELength"ways`, Length"wise`, adv.
Defn: In the direction of the length; in a longitudinal direction.
LENGTHYLength"y, a. [Compar. Lengthier; superl. Lengthiest.]
Defn: Having length; rather long or too long; prolix; not brief; — said chiefly of discourses, writings, and the like. "Lengthy periods." Washington. "Some lengthy additions." Byron. "These would be details too lengthy." Jefferson. "To cut short lengthy explanations." Trench.
LENIENCE; LENIENCYLe"ni*ence, Le"ni*en*cy, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being lenient; lenity; clemency.
LENIENT Le"ni*ent, a. Etym: [L. leniens, -entis, p. pr. of lenire to soften, fr. lenis soft, mild. Cf. Lithe.]
1. Relaxing; emollient; softening; assuasive; — some "Lenient ofgrief." Milton.Of relax the fibers, are lenient, balsamic. Arbuthnot.Time, that on all things lays his lenient hand. Pope.
2. Mild; clement; merciful; not rigorous or severe; as, a lenient disposition; a lenient judge or sentence.
LENIENTLe"ni*ent, n. (Med.)
Defn: A lenitive; an emollient.
LENIENTLYLe"ni*ent*ly, adv.
Defn: In a lenient manner.
LENIFYLen"i*fy, v. t. Etym: [L. lenis soft, mild + -fy: cf. F.lénifier.]
Defn: To assuage; to soften; to Bacon. Dryden.
LENIMENTLen"i*ment, n. Etym: [L. lenimentum: cf. OF. leniment. See Lenient.]
Defn: An assuasive. [Obs.]
LENITIVELen"i*tive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. lénitif. See Lenient.]
Defn: Having the quality of softening or mitigating, as pain or acrimony; assuasive; emollient.
LENITIVELen"i*tive, n. Etym: [Cf. F. lénitif.]
1. (Med.) (a) A medicine or application that has the quality of easing pain or protecting from the action of irritants. (b) A mild purgative; a laxative.
2. That which softens or mitigates; that which tends to allay passion, excitement, or pain; a palliative. There is one sweet Lenitive at least for evils, which Nature holds out; so I took it kindly at her hands, and fell asleep. Sterne.
LENITIVENESSLen"i*tive*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being lenitive.
LENITUDELen"i*tude, n. Etym: [L. lenitudo.]
Defn: The quality or habit of being lenient; lenity. [Obs.] Blount.
LENITYLen"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. lenitas, fr. lenis soft, mild: cf. OF. lenité.See Lenient.]
Defn: The state or quality of being lenient; mildness of temper or disposition; gentleness of treatment; softness; tenderness; clemency; — opposed to severity and rigor. His exceeding lenity disposes us to be somewhat too severe. Macaulay.
Syn. — Gentleness; kindness; tenderness; softness; humanity; clemency; mercy.
LENNI-LENAPELen`ni-Len*a"pe, n. pl. (Ethnol.)
Defn: A general name for a group of Algonquin tribes which formerly occupied the coast region of North America from Connecticut to Virginia. They included the Mohicans, Delawares, Shawnees, and several other tribes.
LENOLe"no, n. Etym: [Cf. It. leno weak, flexible.]
Defn: A light open cotton fabric used for window curtains.
LENOCINANT Le*noc"i*nant, a. Etym: [L. lenocinans, p. pr. of lenocinari to pander, cajole; akin to leno pimp.]
Defn: Given to lewdness. [Obs.]
LENS Lens, n.; pl. Lenses (-êz). Etym: [L. lens a lentil. So named from the resemblance in shape of a double convex lens to the seed of a lentil. Cf. Lentil.] (Opt.)
Defn: A piece of glass, or other transparent substance, ground with two opposite regular surfaces, either both curved, or one curved and the other plane, and commonly used, either singly or combined, in optical instruments, for changing the direction of rays of light, and thus magnifying objects, or otherwise modifying vision. In practice, the curved surfaces are usually spherical, though rarely cylindrical, or of some other figure. Lenses
Note: Of spherical lenses, there are six varieties, as shown in section in the figures herewith given: viz., a plano-concave; b double-concave; c plano-convex; d double-convex; converging concavo- convex, or converging meniscus; f diverging concavo-convex, or diverging meniscus. Crossed lens (Opt.), a double-convex lens with one radius equal to six times the other. — Crystalline lens. (Anat.) See Eye. — Fresnel lens (Opt.), a compound lens formed by placing around a central convex lens rings of glass so curved as to have the same focus; used, especially in lighthouses, for concentrating light in a particular direction; — so called from the inventor. — Multiplying lens or glass (Opt.), a lens one side of which is plane and the other convex, but made up of a number of plane faces inclined to one another, each of which presents a separate image of the object viewed through it, so that the object is, as it were, multiplied. — Polyzonal lens. See Polyzonal.
LENTLent,
Defn: imp. & p. p. of Lend.
LENT Lent, n. Etym: [OE. lente, lenten, leynte, AS. lengten, lencten, spring, lent, akin to D. lente, OHG. lenzin, langiz, G. lenz, and perh. fr. AS. lang long, E. long, because at this season of the year the days lengthen.] (Eccl.)
Defn: A fast of forty days, beginning with Ash Wednesday and continuing till Easter, observed by some Christian churches as commemorative of the fast of our Savior.
LENTLent, a. Etym: [L. lentus; akin to lenis soft, mild: cf. F. lent. SeeLenient.]
1. Slow; mild; gentle; as, lenter heats. [Obs.] B.Jonson.
2. (Mus.)
Defn: See Lento.
LENTAMENTELen`ta*men"te; adv. Etym: [It.] (Mus.)
Defn: Slowly; in slow time.
LENTANDO Len*tan"do, a. Etym: [It., p. pr. of lentare to make slow. See Lent, a.] (Mus.)
Defn: Slackening; retarding. Same as Rallentando.
LENTENLent"en, n.
Defn: Lent. [Obs.] Piers Plowman.
LENTENLent"en, a. Etym: [From OE. lenten lent. See Lent, n. ]
1. Of or pertaining to the fast called Lent; used in, or suitable to, Lent; as, the Lenten season. She quenched her fury at the flood. And with a Lenten salad cooled her blood. Dryden.
2. Spare, meager; plain; somber; unostentatious; not abundant or showy. "Lenten entertainment." " Lenten answer." Shak. " Lenten suit." Beau. & Fl. Lenten color, black or violet. F. G. Lee.
LENTENTIDELent"en*tide`, n.
Defn: The season of Lenten or Lent.
LENTICEL Len"ti*cel, n. Etym: [F. lenticelle, dim. fr. L. lens, lentis, a lentil. Cf. Lentil.] (Bot.) (a) One of the small, oval, rounded spots upon the stem or branch of a plant, from which the underlying tissues may protrude or roots may issue, either in the air, or more commonly when the stem or branch is covered with water or earth. (b) A small, lens-shaped gland on the under side of some leaves.
LENTICELLATELen`ti*cel"late, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Producing lenticels; dotted with lenticels.
LENTICELLELen`ti*celle", n. Etym: [F.] (Bot.)
Defn: Lenticel.
LENTICULALen*tic"u*la, n.; pl. E. Lenticulas, L. Lenticulæ. Etym: [L. SeeLenticel.]
1. (Med.)
Defn: A kind of eruption upon the skin; lentigo; freckle.
2. (Opt.)
Defn: A lens of small size.
3. (Bot.)
Defn: A lenticel.
LENTICULARLen*tic"u*lar, a. Etym: [L. lenticularis: cf. F. lenticulaire. SeeLenticel.]
Defn: Resembling a lentil in size or form; having the form of a double-convex lens.
LENTICULARLYLen*tic"u*lar*ly, adv.
Defn: In the manner of a lens; with a curve.
LENTIFORM Len"ti*form, a. Etym: [L. lens, lentis, lentil + -form: cf. F. lentifarme,]
Defn: Lenticular.
LENTIGINOSELen*tig"i*nose`, a. Etym: [See Lentiginous.] (Bot.)
Defn: Bearing numerous dots resembling freckles.
LENTIGINOUSLen*tig"i*nous, a. Etym: [L. lentiginosus. See Lentigo.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to lentigo; freckly; scurfy; furfuraceous.
LENTIGOLen*ti"go, n. Etym: [L., fr. lens, lentis, lentil.] (Med.)
Defn: A freckly eruption on the skin; freckles.
LENTIL Len"til, n. Etym: [F. lentille, fr. L. lenticula, dim. of lens, lentis, lentil. Cf. Lens.] (Bot.)
Defn: A leguminous plant of the genus Ervum (Ervum Lens), of small size, common in the fields in Europe. Also, its seed, which is used for food on the continent.
Note: The lentil of the Scriptures probably included several other vetchlike plants. Lentil shell (Zoöl.), a small bivalve shell of the genus Ervillia, family Tellinidæ.
LENTISCUS; LENTISK Len*tis"cus, Len"tisk,, n. Etym: [L. lentiscus, lentiscum: cf. F. lentisque.] (Bot.)
Defn: A tree; the mastic. See Mastic.
LENTITUDE Len"ti*tude, n. Etym: [L. lentitudo, fr. lentus slow: cf. OF. lentitude. See Lent, a.]
Defn: Slowness; sluggishness. [Obs.]
LENT LILYLent lily (Bot.),
Defn: the daffodil; — so named from its blossoming in spring.
LENTOLen"to, a. & adv. Etym: [It.] (Mus.)
Defn: Slow; in slow time; slowly; — rarely written lente.
LENTOIDLen"toid, a. Etym: [Lens + -oid.]
Defn: Having the form of a lens; lens-shaped.
LENTORLen"tor, n. Etym: [L. fr. lentus pliant, tough, slow. See Lent, a.]
1. Tenacity; viscidity; viscidity, as of fluids.
2. Slowness; delay; sluggishness. Arbuthnot.
LENTOUSLen"tous, a. Etym: [L. lentus. See Lentor.]
Defn: Viscid; viscous; tenacious.Spawn of a lentous and transparent body. Sir T. Browne.
L'ENVOI; L'ENVOYL'en`voi", or; L'en`voy" (, n. Etym: [F. le the + envei a sending.See Envoy.]
1. One or more detached verses at the end of a literary composition, serving to convey the moral, or to address the poem to a particular person; — orig. employed in old French poetry. Shak.
2. A conclusion; a result. Massinger.
LEOLe"o, n. Etym: [L. See Lion.] (Astron.)
1. The Lion, the fifth sign of the zodiac, marked thus
2. A northern constellation east of Cancer, containing the bright star Regulus at the end of the handle of the Sickle. Leo Minor, a small constellation between Leo and the Great Bear.
LEOD Le"od, n. Etym: [AS.leód people, nation, man, chief; akin to OS. liud, OHG. liut, pl. liuti, G.leute, pl., fr. AS.leódan to grow, akin to Goth. liudan, OS. liodan, OHG. liotan to grow; cf. Skr. ruh. ]
Defn: People; a nation; a man. [Obs.] Piers Plowman. Bp. Gibson.
LEONLe"on, n.
Defn: A lion. [Obs.] Chaucer.
LEONCEDLe"onced, a. (Her.)
Defn: See Lionced.
LEONESELe`o*nese", a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Leon, in Spain.— n. sing. & pl.
Defn: A native or natives of Leon.
LEONIDLe"o*nid, n. Etym: [From Leo: cf. F. léonides, pl.] (Astron.)
Defn: One of the shooting stars which constitute the star shower that recurs near the fourteenth of November at intervals of about thirty- three years; so called because shooting stars appear on the heavens to move in lines directed from the constellation Leo.
LEONINE Le"o*nine, a. Etym: [L. leoninus, fr. leo, leonis, lion: cf. F. léonin. See Lion.]
Defn: Pertaining to, or characteristic of, the lion; as, a leoninelook; leonine repacity.— Le"o*nine*ly, adv. Leonine verse, a kind of verse, in which theend of the line rhymes with the middle; — so named from Leo, orLeoninus, a Benedictine and canon of Paris in the twelfth century,who wrote largely in this measure, though he was not the inventor.The following line is an example:Gloria factorum temere conceditur horum.
LEONTODONLe*on"to*don, n. Etym: [Gr. Lion's-tooth, Dandelion.] (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of liguliflorous composite plants, including the fall dandelion (L. autumnale), and formerly the true dandelion; — called also lion's tooth.
LEOPARDLeop"ard, n. Etym: [OE. leopart, leparde, lebarde, libbard, OF.leopard, liepart, F. léopard, L. leopardus, fr. Gr. Lion, and Pard.](Zoöl.)
Defn: A large, savage, carnivorous mammal (Felis leopardus). It is of a yellow or fawn color, with rings or roselike clusters of black spots along the back and sides. It is found in Southern Asia and Africa. By some the panther (Felis pardus) is regarded as a variety of leopard. Hunting leopard. See Cheetah. Leopard cat (Zoöl.) any one of several species or varieties of small, spotted cats found in Africa, Southern Asia, and the East Indies; esp., Felis Bengalensis. — Leopard marmot. See Gopher, 2.
LEOPARD'S BANELeop"ard's bane`. (Bot.)
Defn: A name of several harmless plants, as Arnica montana, SenecioDoronicum, and Paris quadrifolia.
LEOPARDWOODLeop"ard*wood`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: See Letterwood.
LEPLep, obs. strong imp.
Defn: of Leap. Leaped. Chaucer.
LEPADITELep"a*dite, n. Etym: [L. lepas, lepadis, limpet, Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Same as Lepadoid.
LEPADOIDLep"a*doid, n. Etym: [Lepas + -oid.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A stalked barnacle of the genus Lepas, or family Lepadidæ; a goose barnacle. Also used adjectively.
LEPALLep"al, n. Etym: [Gr. lépale.] (Bot.)
Defn: A sterile transformed stamen.
LEPASLe"pas, n. Etym: [L., a limpet, fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any one of various species of Lepas, a genus of pedunculated barnacles found attached to floating timber, bottoms of ships, Gulf weed, etc.; — called also goose barnacle. See Barnacle.
LEPERLep"er, n. Etym: [OE. lepre leprosy, F. lèpre, L. leprae, lepra, fr.Gr.
Defn: A person affected with leprosy.
LEPEREDLep"ered, a.
Defn: Affected or tainted with leprosy.
LEPERIZELep"er*ize, v. t.
Defn: To affect with leprosy.
LEPEROUSLep"er*ous, a.
Defn: Leprous; infectious; corrupting; poisonous. "The leperous distillment." Shak.
LEPIDLep"id, a. Etym: [L. lepidus.]
Defn: Pleasant; jocose. [R.]The joyous and lepid consul. Sydney Smith.
LEPIDINELep"i*dine, n. (Chem.)
Defn: An organic base, C9H6.N.CH3, metameric with quinaldine, and obtained by the distillation of cinchonine.
LEPIDODENDRIDLep`i*do*den"drid, n. (Paleon.)
Defn: One of an extinct family of trees allied to the modern club mosses, and including Lepidodendron and its allies.
LEPIDODENDROIDLep`i*do*den"droid, a. (Paleon.)
Defn: Allied to, or resembling, Lepidodendron.— n.
Defn: A lepidodendrid.
LEPIDODENDRONLep`i*do*den"dron, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Paleon.)
Defn: A genus of fossil trees of the Devonian and Carboniferous ages, having the exterior marked with scars, mostly in quincunx order, produced by the separation of the leafstalks.
LEPIDOGANOIDLep`i*do*ga"noid, n. Etym: [Gr. ganoid.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any one of a division (Lepidoganoidei) of ganoid fishes, including those that have scales forming a coat of mail. Also used adjectively.
LEPIDOLITELe*pid"o*lite, n. Etym: [Gr. -lite: cf. F. lépidolithe.] (Min.)
Defn: A species of mica, of a lilac or rose-violet color, containing lithia. It usually occurs in masses consisting of small scales. See Mica.
LEPIDOMELANELep`i*dom"e*lane, n. Etym: [Fr. (Min.)
Defn: An iron-potash mica, of a raven-black color, usually found in granitic rocks in small six-sided tables, or as an aggregation of minute opaque scales. See Mica.
LEPIDOPTERLep`i*dop"ter, n. Etym: [Cf. F. lépidoptère.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the Lepidoptera.
LEPIDOPTERALep`i*dop"te*ra, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: An order of insects, which includes the butterflies and moths. They have broad wings, covered with minute overlapping scales, usually brightly colored.
Note: They have a tubular proboscis, or haustellum, formed by the two slender maxillæ. The labial palpi are usually large, and the proboscis, when not in use, can be coiled up spirally between them. The mandibles are rudimentary. The larvæ, called caterpillars, are often brightly colored, and they commonly feed on leaves. The adults feed chiefly on the honey of flowers.
LEPIDOPTERAL; LEPIDOPTEROUSLep`i*dop"ter*al, Lep`i*dop"ter*ous, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Lepidoptera.
LEPIDOPTERISTLep`i*dop"ter*ist, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One who studies the Lepidoptera.
LEPIDOSAURIALep`i*do*sau"ri*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A division of reptiles, including the serpents and lizards; thePlagiotremata.
LEPIDOSIRENLep`i*do*si"ren, n. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: An eel-shaped ganoid fish of the order Dipnoi, having both gills and lungs. It inhabits the rivers of South America. The name is also applied to a related African species (Protopterus annectens). The lepidosirens grow to a length of from four to six feet. Called also doko.
LEPIDOTE; LEPIDOTEDLep"i*dote, Lep"i*do`ted, a. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: Having a coat of scurfy scales, as the leaves of the oleaster.
LEPISMALe*pis"ma, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of wingless thysanurous insects having an elongated flattened body, covered with shining scales and terminated by seven unequal bristles. A common species (Lepisma saccharina) is found in houses, and often injures books and furniture. Called also shiner, silver witch, silver moth, and furniture bug.
LEPISMOIDLe*pis"moid, a. Etym: [Lepisma + -oid.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Like or pertaining to the Lepisma.
LEPORINELep"o*rine, a. Etym: [L. leporinus, fr. lepus, leporis, hare. SeeLeveret.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to a hare; like or characteristic of, a hare.
LEPRALe"pra, n. Etym: [L. See Leper.] (Med.)
Defn: Leprosy.
Note: The term lepra was formerly given to various skin diseases, the leprosy of modern authors being Lepra Arabum. See Leprosy.
LEPRELep"re, n.
Defn: Leprosy.[Obs.] Wyclif.
LEPROSELep"rose`, a. Etym: [See Leprous.] (Nat. Hist.)
Defn: Covered with thin, scurfy scales.
LEPROSITYLe*pros"i*ty, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being leprous or scaly; also, a scale.Bacon.
LEPROSYLep"ro*sy, n. Etym: [See Leprous.] (Med.)
Defn: A cutaneous disease which first appears as blebs or as reddish, shining, slightly prominent spots, with spreading edges. These are often followed by an eruption of dark or yellowish prominent nodules, frequently producing great deformity. In one variety of the disease, anæsthesia of the skin is a prominent symptom. In addition there may be wasting of the muscles, falling out of the hair and nails, and distortion of the hands and feet with destruction of the bones and joints. It is incurable, and is probably contagious.Mycobacterium leprae, curable in most cases by therapy with a combination of antibiotics, but cases resistant to therapy are increasing.
Note: The disease now called leprosy, also designated as Lepra or Lepra Arabum, and Elephantiasis Græcorum, is not the same as the leprosy of the ancients. The latter was, indeed, a generic name for many varieties of skin disease (including our modern leprosy, psoriasis, etc.), some of which, among the Hebrews, rendered a person ceremonially unclean. A variety of leprosy of the Hebrews (probably identical with modern leprosy) was characterized by the presence of smooth, shining, depressed white patches or scales, the hair on which participated in the whiteness while the skin and adjacent flesh became insensible. It was incurable disease.
LEPROUS Lep"rous, a. Etym: [OF. leprous, lepros, F. lépreux, fr. L. leprosus, fr. lepra, leprae, leprosy. See Leper.]
1. Infected with leprosy; pertaining to or resembling leprosy. "His hand was leprous as snow." Ex. iv. 6.
2. (Nat. Hist.)
Defn: Leprose.— Lep"rous*ly, adv.— Lep"rous*ness, n.
LEPRYLep"ry, n.
Defn: Leprosy. [Obs.] Holland.
LEPTIFORMLep"ti*form, a. Etym: [Leptus + -form.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having a form somewhat like leptus; — said of active insect larvæ having three pairs of legs. See Larva.
LEPTOCARDIALep`to*car"di*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The lowest class of Vertebrata, including only the Amphioxus. The heart is represented only by a simple pulsating vessel. The blood is colorless; the brain, renal organs, and limbs are wanting, and the backbone is represented only by a simple, unsegmented notochord. See Amphioxus. [Written also Leptocardii.]
LEPTOCARDIANLep`to*car"di*an a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Leptocardia.— n.
Defn: One of the Leptocardia.
LEPTODACTYLLep`to*dac"tyl, n. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A bird or other animal having slender toes. [Written also lepodactyle.]
LEPTODACTYLOUSLep`to*dac"tyl*ous
Defn: , Having slender toes.
LEPTOLOGYLep*tol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: A minute and tedious discourse on trifling things.
LEPTOMENINGITISLep`to*men`in*gi"tis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. meningitis.] (Med.)
Defn: Inflammation of the pia mater or of the arachnoid membrane.
LEPTORHINELep"to*rhine, a. Etym: [Gr. , , the nose.] (Anat.)
Defn: Having the nose narrow; — said esp. of the skull. Opposed to platyrhine.
LEPTOSTRACALep*tos"tra*ca, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: An order of Crustacea, including Nebalia and allied forms.
LEPTOTHRIXLep"to*thrix, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Biol.)
Defn: A genus of bacteria, characterized by having their filaments very long, slender, and indistinctly articulated.
LEPTOTHRIXLep"to*thrix, a. Etym: [See Leptothrix, n. ] (Biol.)
Defn: Having the form of a little chain; — applied to bacteria when, as in multiplication by fission, they form chain of filiform individuals.